tookatooka
278 posts
Jul 07, 2009
4:50 AM
|
I hope to enter the Summertime Contest but I don't have any sound equipment except for what is on my PC. I'll need to use the PC mic which isn't of a particularly high quality and I was wondering whether anyone has any ideas in how to achieve the best quality sound with limited kit.
I've tried a few tests and I'm finding the sound is a bit thin and favours high pitched.
I am aware of the Audacity link but this doesn't address the problem of obtaining the best quality.
Ideas anyone?
Thanks.
When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
Last Edited by on Jul 07, 2009 4:54 AM
|
Kingley
196 posts
Jul 07, 2009
5:11 AM
|
You could get a cheap vocal mic and use that into the PC. There are lots of SM58 copies out there that are fairly resonable.
Maybe you could borrow a mic off someone you know.
Other than that there may be graphic equaliser settings in Audacity to do it post recording.
You could of course sell the PC and buy a MacBook. Then you'll have GarageBand and a great built in mic as well :)
Last Edited by on Jul 07, 2009 5:12 AM
|
KingoBad
51 posts
Jul 07, 2009
5:35 AM
|
You can't get around having a bad mic.
This can be good or bad, depending on your point of view. It can hide your wimpy tone if you are not so good, or it can hide your awesome tone if you are very good.
If you do have a good mic for your harp, you can run it straight into your sound card by using an adapter (1/4 inch to 1/8 inch i think?).
Just don't run out and buy any old mic from the nearest Walmart. I did that early on and got exactly what I paid for.
Audacity can help with your mix, but it will not solve your bad mic issues. Also, I assume you will be submitting a vid, which will not lend itself to audacity at all (though I'm sure you can post audio only on youtube).
|
tookatooka
279 posts
Jul 07, 2009
6:14 AM
|
Thanks all.
Kingley. KingoBad. I've found an old Sony Mic which I'm gonna try. May help. I found Audacity doesn't run well with my Vista so I had to delete it.
Preston. No I don't have digi camera that takes movie clips. I bought a webcam but it is such poor quality I can't really use it. I may have to just upload a soundfile with some sort of slideshow for graphics.
I still have a few options open to try with Creative Wave Studio and Creative Audio center but I think they only affect playback quality rather than recording quality.
When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
|
oldwailer
819 posts
Jul 07, 2009
9:25 AM
|
I have one of those old Sony mic's--not to rain on your parade, but it is actually worse than the computer mic. On the other hand, it works fine for tuning harps. . .
|
tookatooka
280 posts
Jul 07, 2009
9:44 AM
|
Hi oldwailer,
My old Sony mic is stereo with two small jack plugs. When I plug it in it only comes out mono which is no good, plus it is low impedance and I can't get any volume. Never mind.
I may be able to make do with the PC mic. In the past I was playing at about 6 inches distance from it but I now realise I need to play with it cupped. The problem is I get all sorts of thuds and bangs when I move my hands. If I can't sort that out with an old toilet roll and some foam rubber, I'm gonna have to abandon any hand wahs and learn how to perfect my vibrato. Always something, isn't there?
Thanks anyway.
----------
When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
|
